Weekend Family Fun: Jan. 29-Feb. 2

Wednesday

Reading Cuddly Buddies
Kids can practice their reading skills by sharing a book with a cat or dog. All pets are adoptable in this program which helps shy readers and also animals in need of a home. Baltimore County Public Library, Hereford Branch, 4-5 p.m. Free. bcpl.info

Date Night: Artifact Coffee’s Bowl and a Beer
Every month, a new regional chef makes a guest appearance at Artifact Coffee and crafts a menu of three simple bowls of delicious, locally-sourced dishes. Your first beer is included. Artifact Coffee & Restaurant, 6-9 p.m. Pay as you go. artifactcoffee.com

Date Night: Thirsty Thursdays at the Opera
Listen to top-notch opera singers while enjoying cocktails specially crafted to go with the music.
Engineers Club of Baltimore, 7:30-10 p.m. $29 in advance, $35 at the door. baltimoreconcertopera.com

Friday

Baltimore Free Farm Presents: Fancy Dinner
Support Baltimore Free Farm, a collective of gardeners making fresh produce accessible to all, by attending its fundraiser dinner, with Indian and Ethiopian food, live music and a raffle. Space 2640, 6-10 p.m. $45. baltimorefreefarm.org

Shen Yun
Travel back to ancient China with this powerful performance that blends classical dance, storytelling and live orchestra music. The Hippodrome Theatre, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $90. france-merrickpac.com

Saturday

Weekend Walk-In Workshop
Take your aspiring artist to this drop-in class to make their very own masterpiece, inspired by the museum’s exhibiting artists. Supplies provided. American Visionary Art Museum, 1-4 p.m. $5, plus museum admission. avam.org

Sensory Story Time Saturdays
Children of all abilities are welcome at this story time for kids sensitive to large groups. All kids must be accompanied by an adult. Ages 2-11. Baltimore County Public Library, Perry Hall Branch, 10 a.m. Free. bcpl.net

Freedom Quilt Squares
Historians believe that Freedom Quilts were used as signals for the Underground Railroad. Kick off Black History Month by creating your very own square. Enoch Pratt Free Library, Washington Village Branch, 3:30 p.m. Free. prattlibrary.org

Chinese Take-Out
The only thing better than getting Chinese delivery? Learning how to make it yourself. In this class you’ll whip up the classics, from pork lo mein to General Tso’s chicken wings. Schola Cooking School, 6:30-9:30 p.m. $70. scholacooks.com

Sunday

Wake Up Groundhog
Punxsutawney Phil may live in the next state over, but you can meet some of Maryland’s own resident groundhogs on this guided hike. Here’s hoping we’re in for a short winter. Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 10-11:30 p.m. $3. oregonridgenaturecenter.org

Ballet Theater of Maryland: ‘The Snow Queen’
Shake off the winter blues with this stunning dance production, based on the Hans Christian Anderson story that inspired Disney’s “Frozen.” The Gordon Center, 3 p.m. $20, $25 at the door. jcc.org/gordon-center